Buitenhuis Stymies Americans in Thunder Victory, 3-1
ALLEN, TX – Evan Buitenhuis produced arguably his best outing of the season, stopping 28 shots to lead the Wichita Thunder to a 3-1 victory over the Allen Americans on Wednesday evening. Buitenhuis blanked Allen for nearly 54 minutes. Jay Dickman and Billy Exell each scored a goal and added an assist for Wichita, who earned their second straight victory.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net through the first 18 minutes of this contest, but Tyler Jeanson put Wichita on top with 89 seconds left in the first frame. Jeanson carried the puck inside the Americans end along the boards, moving around the defenseman before firing a wrist shot from just above the left face-off circle. The puck went over the shoulder of Allen netminder Hayden Lavigne to put the Thunder on top, 1-0. It was the fourth goal of the season for Jeanson.
The Thunder clung to the one goal lead through the first intermission and looked like it would remain 1-0 through the second. However, Exell gave Wichita a two-goal lead with 36 seconds left in the second period. Carter Johnson carried the puck into the Americans zone on a 3-on-2 rush. He passed the puck to Exell, who beat Lavigne with a wrist shot for his third goal of the year.
Buitenhuis had stoned the Americans all game long, but Allen finally got on the board at 13:56 of the third frame. While on the power-play, Kris Myllari took a shot that Buitenhuis saved, but the rebound came right to Jackson Leppard, who put it home for his 11th goal of the year.
Suddenly it felt like Allen was back in the contest, but Dickman secured the victory with an empty net tally with 51 seconds left in the contest. It was the 12th goal of the year for Dickman.
Logan Fredericks had an assist in the game. That now gives him five assists over his last four contests. Buitenhuis stopped 28 of 29 shots to earn the victory, moving to 9-13-2 while lowering his goals-against average to 2.92. He now has a .917 save percentage.
The Thunder (15-21-5) return home to open a three-game series with the Idaho Steelheads (24-16-1) starting on Friday evening. The puck drops at 7:05.
By Robert Pannier
